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How does one man find himself at the center of modern myth making? David S. Goyer's written and directed superhero comics, films and television, but his public persona suggests something larger and more conflicted about superhero storytelling.

Looking at David Bowie's final record Blackstar we ask, "Was he saying goodbye?" The public's treasure hunt for meaning in both this record's lyrics and art seems to say so. But how do people's grief for dead celebrities invite such deeply personal connections?

As hacker subculture becomes more prevalent in our current events, techno-thrillers like Chuck Wendig's Zer0es portray hacking more accurately. But how does it split the difference between writing a snarky page-turner and addressing the themes of present day?

Comics creator Benjamin Marra is continually described as "notorious" or an "outsider artist" but we talk to him about his genuine sentimentality for these stories. In relation to the release of his work on Fantagraphics' All Time Comics, we review his body of work and why it might make us so uncomfortable.

Together with guest Jack Bennett we compare and contrast all 3 versions of The Shining: Stephen King's novel, Stanley Kubrick's film and ABC's television mini-series. What does this horror tale of alcoholism and domestic violence say about redemption and narcissism?

What went wrong with Yahoo Screen and its investment in a sixth season of Community? We look behind the business to try to figure out how a search engine whittled away the brand loyalty of a beloved TV show.

Sicario is a 2015 action/thriller about the difference between the drug war and the "War on Drugs." We look at its complex themes and try to understand arguments about its portrayal of a strong female character, as well as life on the other side of the border.

Some call Pale Fire the best novel of the 20th century. So we interrogate what that means by diving into literary criticism about postmodernism, hypertextuality, authorial intent, unreliable narrators and more.

What went wrong with comedian John Mulaney's debut sitcom? Was it network interference? Formatting? Or did the creator just take on too much? We discuss the differences between irony and sincerity in television humor to try to understand this show's cancellation.

Special guest Cristen Conger (Unladylike,Stuff Mom Never Told You) helps us unpack the activism of musician Kathleen Hanna. After the January 2017 Women's Marches we look at Hanna's methods of protest, including Riot Grrrl, articulation and disruption.

What is pulp fiction for? We look at the first season of Sundance's rural crime noir Hap & Leonard for answers. Does this Joe R. Lansdale adaption bring something new to platonic male friendships? Or is it simply a salad mixer you can throw plot lines into?

It's Inauguration Day for Donald Trump... so is a comic book about the first teenage president essential reading for American citizens now? We look at both the 1973 and 2015 versions of PREZ from DC Comics while discussing the cyclical nature of politics and satire.

Last year Peter Thiel secretly funded Hulk Hogan's lawsuit that destroyed Gawker. Should the wealthy be able to ruin a publication if they don't like what it has to say? We discuss the new precedent this case set between privacy and Freedom of Speech, all while tumbling down the rabbit hole of trashy media and big money.

While Lawless is a flawed film that's not for everyone, it's still one of our favorites. We go through some personal reconciliations while reviewing how John Hillcoat, Nick Cave and others made this true myth.

Paul Thomas Anderson's adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's Inherent Vice was embraced by some and puzzled others. But does a movie that's designed to be repeatedly re-watched automatically become a cult film?

In our 2016 holiday episode we look at the forgotten Christmas Eve tradition of telling ghost stories. M.R. James' work from over a hundred years ago best represents this Victorian trend, so in his honor we bring horror to academia and safe spaces.

Marvel's latest Netflix series Luke Cage incorporates ideas about diversity into the comic adaptation formula so more kids have heroes to look up to. We look at how its inclusivity and symbolism strive to achieve this forward thinking mission.

In his new serialized novella Normal, Warren Ellis shows us how too much futurism can lead to "abyss gaze." Christian went to one of Ellis' few U.S. readings from the book and reports to Charlie on how social media is the new cosmic horror. And what's the difference between a foresight strategist and a strategic forecaster?

Regarded as one of the best graphic novels of our time, David Mazzucchelli’s Asterios Polyp is a story we all know in a way we’ve never seen before. We discuss Mazzucchelli’s decision to stop doing “assembly line comics” and take control of his works’ symbolism, formalism and experimentation.

One of the best horror writers of our time is experimenting with genre and structure in his new “mosaic novel” collection of stories. How does Laird Barron bring together Alaska, dogs, cosmic horror and inevitable death to make a new kind of literature?

This episode we try to understand how a television show about anti-capitalism was distributed by a corporate network. Did tapping into the “angry young man” archetype allow Mr. Robot to predict Donald Trump’s presidency?

With the release of stand up comedian Kyle Kinane’s new album “Loose in Chicago,” we try to understand his process of mixing “scumbag stories” with contrarian confessions. And after a recent comedy show gone sour, we wonder what kind of etiquette to expect from live audiences.